News

WoodMor Foundation seeks help in supporting employability

15/02/21

BASE member, Matt Wood of Millwood Servicing, has formed the WoodMor Foundation to support disadvantaged people to prepare for employment. The foundation aims to increase the opportunities of employment for disabled, vulnerable or disadvantaged people aged 25 and above. To do this, they will provide an individual with an event, expedition or specialist skills training programme that aims to develop their confidence and employability. 

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Supported Internships AtW funding confirmed for 2020-21

11/02/21

DWP Ministers have agreed to continue Access to Work funding for employability activities delivered through Supported Internships through the 2020/21 academic year. This means that supported interns can continue to receive funded job coaching support for employment-related activities through Access to Work until the end of August 2021.

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BASE submits evidence to National Disability Strategy

10/02/21

BASE has submitted evidence to the Cabinet Office consultation on a National Disability Strategy. The Disability Unit announced the development of a strategy last April and established regional stakeholder networks to support this.

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Update on Supported Internships and Access to Work

29/01/21

We've had communication from the Department for Work and Pensions about the use of Access to Work within Supported Internships. Education providers have been able to claim Access to Work funding for job coaches supporting the employability of learners who are unable to be on placementt due to Covid-19. This funding was agreed to the end of January and theere has been uncertainty as to whether it will continue.

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New DfE guidance for Further Education providers

08/01/21

The Department for Education has published revised guidance for Further Education providers. The guidance sets out what further education and skills providers in England need to know so that students of all ages can benefit from their education and training in full. It explains the actions to take to stay as safe as possible in response to the challenges of coronavirus.

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Blog: National Grid and Supported Internships during Covid-19

05/01/21

Blog

Mark Pickles (Business Programme Director, National Grid)

 

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Learning disability employment rates fall to 5.6%

10/12/20

The 2019-20 Adult Social Care Outcomes Framework (ASCOF) figures for England were published today and show a mixed picture. We've posted the annual report and a spreadsheet of the disaggregated local authority rates at www.base-uk.org/employment-rates

Rates have risen again for adults in contact with mental services and now stand at 9% but the learning disability figure has fallen again, this time to 5.6%. This is very disappointing news and reflects the lack of support available to support people with learning disabilities into work. We really need DWP to take a lead on this issue and fund appropriate support in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Article 27).

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BASE links up with Skills Builder Partnership

07/12/20

BASE has joined the Skills Builder Partnership as a strategic membership body partner. 

Skills Builder is a free resource used in schools, colleges, and workplaces to assess and chart progress on developing the soft skills needed in the workplace. The framework is now used by 700 organisations and covers achievement of the following soft skills:

  • Listening
  • Speaking
  • Problem solving
  • Creativity
  • Staying positive
  • Aiming high
  • Leadership
  • Teamwork
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New SEND resources for employers

09/11/20

The Careers and Enterprise Company (CEC) has published a new set of resources specifically aimed at raising the levels of confidence in employers and CEC Enterprise Advisors to increase the level of valuable encounters with employers and experiences of the work environment.

The materials cover 3 stages:

  • Awareness and engagement: 
  • Planning and implementation
  • Evaluation and review

There are also some supporting videos.

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Committee inquiry into disability employment gap

05/11/20

The Work and Pensions Committee is investigating the gap between the employment rates of disabled and non-disabled people and how the Department for Work and Pensions can better support disabled people in the labour market.

They will be looking at trends in the disability employment gap, the economic impact of low employment rates for disabled people and the assistance available to help people in work. The inquiry will also cover the ongoing impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Committee wants to hear from as many people as possible, especially disabled people, and has produced the call for evidence in text, audio, British Sign Language and EasyRead formats.

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